Europe is to have two new HDPE plants, both located in Germany, with Basell pledging to rebuild its unit at Muenchmunster, near Munich, damaged by an explosion last year, while Sabic Europe is to replace a plant at Gelsenkirchen with a new, larger facility.
Basell will use its latest generation Hostalen ACP technology, deployed at a new Polish joint venture as well as its Wesseling site, as it rebuilds the 120,000tpa unit near Munich. The process offers advantages in demanding applications such as high pressure pipes, caps and closures, blow moulding and speciality film. The new unit, scheduled to come on stream in 2009, has scope for expansion to 150,000tpa.
Sabic Europe is to spend ˆ200m on its new 250,000tpa bimodal HDPE unit which will replace a 100,000tpa plant at the Gelsenkirchen site. Scheduled to come on stream Q4 2008, the plant will underpin Sabic Europe’s strong position in the pipe business, says Sabic Europe Polymers managing director Koos van Haasteren.
